Digidesign Offers Focusrite, Blue Microphone Bundle Digidesign, the North American distributor for Focusrite products, andBlue Microphones announced the second in a series of product bundles;this bundle is good from April 1 to June 30, 2003.

"Our first bundling experience with Focusrite was with theVoiceMaster Pro and our Blue Baby Bottle," said Skipper Wise, BlueMicrophones' co-owner. "It was so successful that we were excited topartner again to offer amazing products that professional recordistscan benefit from at a greatly reduced price. The competitive pricing ofthese bundles helps both companies' high-quality products stand out ina very crowded marketplace."

New England Insitute to Offer Audio, Media Degree The New England Institute of Art & Communication (Brookline,Mass.) received approval from the Massachusetts Board of HigherEducation in order to offer a Bachelor of Science degree in Audio andMedia Technology.

"This is a tremendous step forward for the college and for ourstudents," said Tom Dyer, Dean of education. "We offer associate'sdegree programs in Audio Production, but this allows our students aunique opportunity to hone and refine their skills, take morebusiness-oriented math and science classes, and spend more time oninternships and in the studios doing hands-on training."

Two concentrations will be offered: Audio Production and Audio andVideo Technology. Students who concentrate in Audio Production "willlearn the skills necessary for entry-level careers in sound recordingfor music and speech applications, in corporate audio/visual, digitalpost-production, digital editing and for Internet and multimediaapplications," said Rob Lehmann, department chair.

For those seeking careers on the repair and maintenance side, theAudio and Video Technology concentration will give students thenecessary skills to seek entry-level positions in that field.

David Parse Appointed Ashly Audio CEO Ashly Audio's (Webster, N.Y.) president, William Thompson, announcedthe appointment of David Parse to the newly created position of CEO.Parse previously held the position of VP of sales and marketing atAshly.

Thompson said, "The sales and business management skills that Davidbrought to Ashly six years ago have been integral in the development ofour growth, marketplace image and the business platform upon which weoperate. I would anticipate that we will continue to prosper under hisnew leadership position."

"I enthusiastically look forward to making Ashly a bigger presencein our industry," commented Parse. "The relationships that we foster,our domestic and international accounts and our strategic allianceswill continue to be of utmost importance. Our continued success andgrowth will come through the expansion of these partnerships."

Video Design Software to Show Liberty Upgrade at NAB2003 Video Design Software will show Liberty Version 8.3, the nextgeneration of its paint and animation product line for broadcast andfilm applications. The new release, available on VDS’ turnkeysystems or for Windows NT/2000/XP or IRIX platforms, offers newfeatures such as direct file and database support for Pinnacle Thunderand Lightning in the Windows version.

Liberty 8.3 manages stills and video clips directly to mostindustry-standard 2D/3D graphics systems, NLEs, Character Generators,Still-Stores and Video Clip Servers to easily locate, edit and save anyfile. The program automatically generates thumbnails for browsing andcan display and update database information for each still and videoclip on the system. Liberty operators can recall any still directlyfrom the browser, as well as save stills with optional database infoand key channel. Video clips can be loaded with transport controlfunctions, including play, stop, cue, jog, shuttle and currenttimecode.

In the Windows version of Liberty 8.3, direct file support for bothPinnacle Thunder and Lightning via Network Neighborhood is now offered.Embedded within Liberty’s UI, this feature allows users to graband send stills in the Pinnacle G format to and from Liberty’scanvas, as well as import and export video clips to and fromLiberty’s animation or rotoscoping environments.

According to D.R. Worthington, director of marketing and productdevelopment at VDS, "Liberty’s direct file and database-managementinterface maximizes the user’s creativity by placing any still,layer or clip file from most industry display systems right at theirfingertips. With the newly integrated Pinnacle file support, Libertynow serves well as a seamless paint and animation package for Thunderand Lightning users."

Connections include detachable Phoenix-style powered input andoutput. The unit offers 100 watts per channel at 70 volts; all channelpairs can be bridged to provide 200 watts at 140 volts. Each channelpair can be governed by QSC’s QSControl network audio control andmonitoring application, allowing the user to control amplifier gain,check clipping and thermal status, as well as monitor additional systemparameters.

"The new CX 108V is a feature-packed, versatile power solutioncapable of addressing a wide range of 70-volt applications," said GregMcLagan, QSC's marketing manager for Installed Sound. "This newamplifier packs a wealth of power, features and flexibility into asmall, lightweight form factor."

According to AMT's Tim Carlson, "The rig went up just as wepredicted. With the digital inclinometer showing exactly the anglepredicted to provide the required vertical coverage, we used a laserplaced on the array to verify the aim points and upper edges of thecoverage pattern at ear-height in the back row."

According to the MCB plan, each left/right array incorporates 14dV-DOSC enclosures as mid-high elements flown in a classic line arrayarc at the side of the stage, along with adjacent arrays of flowndV-SUBs numbering five apiece on each side. For LF punch, theSB218 subs were relegated to groundstacks of four on either side,making the frequency response of the system 28 Hz to 18 kHz (+3dB).

"When you think of line array technology, traditionally long, deepthrows come to mind," said MCB's Randy Willis. "But in this facility,we were facing relatively short, wide throws. All that considered, westill needed a high degree of control to maintain the tight coveragepatterns required. Our acoustics group did all they could to minimizethe sonic anomalies inherent within the space, but we were stillconcerned about throwing unnecessary energy onto the walls and into thedome, because there was certainly a limitation to the amount ofcorrective measures the project could afford both aesthetically andfinancially. By necessity, then, we had to find line array technologythat would allow us to maintain the control coverage and provide theSPL we needed, but still get the width. Based upon their tight responseand high-energy, low-frequency impact, the small-format L-Acousticsproduct was ultimately chosen."

"We are more than pleased with the capabilities of the new audiosystem," said executive associate pastor David Hanley, who presidesover the house of worship's musical ministry. "It's perfect for theroom, and I really couldn't ask for more. I'm especially impressed withthe coverage. Vocals are crystal clear, and it doesn't have that 'honk'characteristic of conventional horn-loaded systems. Bottom line, thesound is transparent and goes a long way in covering a multitude ofproblems we'd have experienced in this room otherwise."

DPA Establishes Independent Sales, Distribution Office in U.S. DPA Microphones A/S announced that it is establishing a whollyowned subsidiary in the United States. The new company is responsiblefor comprehensive marketing, sales, technical support and customerservice in North America. Operations will be headquartered in Lyons,Colo., and began on March 1, 2003.

Bruce Myers will head the new U.S. subsidiary.

"To strengthen and expand our North American presence, we felt that'being there' was an essential move," said Morten Stove, CEO andco-founder of DPA Microphones. "We are consciously laying thefoundations for future growth and accelerating the internationalizationof our business. The size of the North American market alone makes itstrategically significant."

Previously, DPA had been represented by Tannoy North America inKitchener, Ontario, which was the sole distributor of the product forthe past 10 years. Initially, DPA plans to use the existing U.S.network of rep firms and dealers.

Caesars Tahoe Installs BSS Soundweb This winter, Caesars Tahoe updated the audio facilities in itsconvention center. XXXX Audio Systems, a live sound reinforcementprovider and systems integration firm located in Sacramento, Calif.,provided the design and installation of the new setup, which is basedaround BSS Audio's Soundweb product range.

Five 9088ii DSP units, used in conjunction with two 9000ii networkhubs, provide loudspeaker processing and room combining for the9,500-square-foot ballroom, which may be divided as required into up toeight individual meeting rooms. Further, nine wall-mounted 9010"Jellyfish'"programmable remote controllers (including one for theadjacent Senate boardroom) have been installed for control over basicsystem parameters.

Each of the breakout rooms, which range from approximately 450 to3,300 square feet in size, is equipped with between two and eightmicrophone inputs that feed into the Soundweb units housed in thecontrol room. "We've created dedicated presets that work best for eachof the hotel's different mics," said XXXX systems engineer Carl Sagen,who served as the project supervisor and system designer. "In doing so,a Caesars employee can plug in a particular mic, push the appropriatebutton for that product on a Jellyfish and Soundweb provides atailor-made EQ for that microphone signal."

Four lines of DMX music are also fed into the BSS units forbackground music options that can be dialed up in any room via theJellyfish. "The banquet captains are very appreciative of the fact thatthey can get up and turn on music without having to call in an A/Vguy," added Sagen.

For more information on the Soundweb, visit BSS online at www.bss.co.uk.

Elliot Mazer Remixing Sinatra Recordings Producer and engineer Elliot Mazer has been digitally remixing some ofFrank Sinatra's recordings using Euphonix's high-quality Model TwoProcessor converters. Set for DVD-Audio are a live unreleased Rat Packsession recorded in the early '60s in Chicago, the Sinatra/Jobimcollaboration and September of my Years.

"The Model Two provides the best digital conversion you can get, barnone," Mazer said. "I’ve run a lot of A/B comparisons in the pastwith other converters including the Pro Tools|HD and the Model Twoclearly comes out on top."

The Sinatra transfers are done from 3, 4 and 8-track masters throughfour Models Two converters (8-track) into Pro Tools|HD where they areremixed and then digitally transferred back through the Model Two intoa Sonic Solutions for 5.1 mastering. Mazer rented his Model Twos, ProTools|HD rigs and Ampex ATR-104 recorders from Doug Botnick’sBurbank, Calif.,-based Digital Music Technologies

Sennheiser Shows New Mic System at NAB 2003 Sennheiser has introduced its Encore HS1 Performance Head-WornMicrophone System for professional broadcast and live performanceapplications. The modular head-worn system is designed to be usedwiththe company's ME 105 supercardioid capsule; it will alsoaccommodate both ME 102 omni-directional and ME 104 cardioidcapsules.

Available in beige or black, the lightweight brass-tube constructionof the Encore HS1 offers high mechanical strength. The fully adjustabletelescopic headband suits a variety of hands-free applications whilefully maintaining capsule position. The headset is available withintegrated cables that can be used with Sennheiser's 3000, 5000 or EWSeries belt-pack wireless transmitters.

The ME 105 miniature condenser capsule uses a supercardioid pickuppattern that, coupled with the close address distance of the headset,offers optimal isolation with very effective feedback rejection andrear-field noise suppression. Other features include high-SPL handling,uniform directivity across its full frequency range and an optimizedlow-end frequency response.

Propellerhead Releases Reload UtilityPropellerhead Software has released Reload, a utility program for MacOS X and Windows XP that allows Reason and ReCycle users to load AkaiS1000/S3000 sound discs. Reload can also be used to import .WAVfiles.

Features include: ability to load complete Akai programs andsamples, including full keyboard mapping and parameters, into the NNXT;load Akai samples into the NN-19 and Redrum, including looping; andload samples into ReCycle, including looping parameters.

Reload is available as a free download for registered Propellerheadusers and is $49 for unregistered users. Visit www.propellerheads.se.

The TPA system consists of a powered sending unit and a receivingunit. The TPA pair can transmit up to 3,000 feet, and is capable ofbeing daisy-chained as many times as needed, allowing for soundtransmission to many speakers on the same Cat-5 cable. The system usesadvanced circuity to eliminate ground loops, distortion andinterference.

The TPA receiver can be mated to any self-powered speaker thataccepts a line-level input,

The company's managing directory, Morten Lave, said, "With theintroduction of the new Dice II technology, we will now be able tooffer significantly improved performance and convenience, takingcomputer integration to a new level. In recording and post-productionenvironments, easy-to-add DSP and I/O modules providing extensiveadditional processing power, can be plugged in according to your needs.Also, in the installation market, the option of using a single cable tonetwork a large number of audio channels will eliminate the hassle andcost of working with bundles of cables. The Dice II handles audiochannels at 96 kHz."

Features include: total of 96 FireWire audio channels at 96 kHzsample rate; two sample-rate domains, each featuring an on-chip PLL;AES receiver/transmitter handling eight channels in each direction;ADAT receiver/transmitter with S-MUX support for 96 kHz; gluelessconnection of AD/DA (more than 16 channels in ech direction); gluelessconnection of a high number of commodity DSP processors; ARM 32-bitRISC processor; and IEEE-1394 Link Layer Controller.

Several recording and installation equipment partners provided inputduring the development process. These partners will now be implementingthe chip in audio gear to be made available in the future. According toLave, "We have now gone into the synthesis phase and will have physicalchips available this summer. Due to the high bandwidth of the streamingengine, combined with the state-of-the-art digital PLL technology andsupport of 100m Ethernet-style cable, we believe that this solutionovercomes the last hurdles for FireWire being broadly applied in proaudio.

In other studio news, Threshold's director of engineering PeterBarker finished mixing J.Lo and LL Cool J's "All I Have" performancefor air on England's Top of the Pops and is currently ensconcedin the company's mix room working on a 5.1 mix for Dick Dale: NewYears 2003 live performance DVD.

At the editing helm for both projects is Threshold's MarcSchrobilgen. Other recent projects for Schrobilgen include a new musicvideo for "Headstrong" by New Line Records artist Trapt with directorBrian Scott Weber.

Shure Acquires UK Distributor HW International Shure Incorporated announced the purchase of its longtime UKdistribution center, HW International, from Wilton Investments. The newShure subsidiary will keep all current employees, as well as thedistribution of its other existing product lines, including Phonic, QSCand PreSonus. Dennis Harburn will continue as managing director atHW.

"The purchase of HW International provides an opportunity for Shureto have more direct contact with its customer base in the UK, one ofEurope's largest markets," said Mike McGinn, Shure's executive VP ofglobal marketing and sales. "This supports our plan to further developthe brand there."

Markus Winkler, managing director of Shure Europe, said, "From thestandpoint of our UK customers, the change in ownership of HW will betransparent, as we will continue to utilize the excellent staff that HWhas assembled, adn continue to carry the same product lines."

Avid Acquires Rocket Network's Assets Avid Technology (Tewksbury, Mass.) announced that it has acquired theassets of privately held software company Rocket Network (SanFrancisco). Future plans include Avid providing (through its Digidesignaudio-business unit) collaboration and delivery products or servicesbased on Rocket Network's technology. Terms of the deal were notdisclosed.

"Rocket Network developed technology that has greatly excited andcreatively charged the Digidesign Pro Tools audio community," said DaveLebolt, VP and general manager of Digidesign. "By integrating thistechnology into our current offerings, we plan to provide Pro Toolscustomers the means to take advantage of smooth, collaborative workflowbetween Pro Tools systems over local area networks or the Internet.With powerful tools for easy and secure digital delivery of large mediafiles of any type, including audio or video, this new technology willhelp our customers move vast amounts of media over the Web at highspeed."

Prior to the acquisition, Digidesign had incorporated RocketNetwork's technology into Pro Tools as part of the DigiStudio onlineservice for track-based collaboration over the Internet, which usednear-real-time interaction with a remote centralized data server forstorage and billing. The technology will further enhance Avid'send-to-end digital workflow by increasing efficiency and speed fromtighter integration between Pro Tools and Avid workgroup shared-storagetechnology.

Wi-Fi Turns Three The Wi-Fi Alliance (Mountain View, Calif.) announced that its Wi-Fiproduct-certification program is now three years old; certificationbegan in March of 2000.

"This has been an amazing three years for Wi-Fi," said Dennis Eaton,chairman of the Wi-Fi Alliance. "As with any new technology, we hadhigh expectations for Wi-Fi's growth potential. However, what happenedturned out to be nothing short of amazing: Not only has Wi-Fi grownbeyond our expectations, it has turned out to be a rallying point forentrepreneuers, large technology companies and grass-rootorganizations. Looking back on this experience, it is clear that trueinteroperability and open standards were a key component of Wi-Fi'ssuccess. What made it even more remarkable was that this took placeduring one of the most significant downturns in the history of thetechnology industry.

"Certainly," Eaton continued, "the increased number and diversity ofWi-Fi products is one indicator of Wi-Fi's evolution, but moreimportantly, entirely new industry segments based on Wi-Fi technology,like public access, have emerged. Another measure is that only twoyears ago, less than 5 percent of laptops were shipped with Wi-Fi builtin. This year, we expect greater than 50 percent will ship with Wi-Fi,and an even higher percentage is anticipated in the future."

The Wi-Fi Alliance was formed in August of 1999 by 3COM, Aironet(now Cisco), Lucent Technologies (now Agere), Intersil, Nokia andSymbol Technologies for the purpose of certifying interoperability of802.11b products. Shortly thereafter, the Wi-Fi Alliance coined theterm "Wi-Fi" to indicate that products had passed the organization'sinteroperability-certification program.

Recording Academy Increases Grant-Griving The Recording Academy (Santa Monica, Calif.) announced that almost$550,000 will be presented to 27 organizations and individuals in theform of Recording Academy grants. This represents a 27% increase infunding and a 69% increase in the number of award recipients ascompared to last year.

Now in its 16th year, the Academy grant program funds projects thatadvance archiving and preservation of America's recorded sound/musicheritage, studies related to the impact of music on human development,and research concerning the medical and occupational well-being ofmusic professionals.

"These grants will benefit of wide range of preservation andmedical-research programs that not only protect our nation's richcultural legacy but also benefit the health and wellness of musicians,children and the public at large," said Recording Academy presidentNeil Portnow. "The Academy is committed to supporting projects thatdocument the educational and therapeutic effects of music. Music is apowerful force with the ability to inspire, to teach and to heal, andthe goal of many of these programs is to enhance an individual'squality of life. We applaud the efforts of our grant recipients andothers who endeavor to do the same."

Grant recipients are determined by the Academy's NationalProfessional Education Committee based on criteria such as merit,uniqueness of project and the ability to accomplish intended goals. Thedeadline for each year's grants is October 1; applications areavailable at www.grammy.com/grant.pdf.

The following is a list of grant recipients:

Archiving & Preservation American Music Center Inc. (New York City): restoration,reconstruction, recording, documentation and preservation of 11unpublished musical works for big bands created by legendary jazzcomposer, arranger and performer Thad Jones.

Center for Southern Folklore (Memphis): to catalog music and thestories of blues greats, fife makers, fiddlers, country, jazz andgospel quartets, and others who have been recorded by the Center ofSouthern Folklore in performances or in interviews at the Center or intheir homes.

City Lore Inc. (New York City): restore, archive and disseminatehistoric audio recordings embodying all of the concerts presented bythe pioneering New York City organization Friends of Old TimeMusic.

Country Music Foundation (Nashville): transfer of 78 rpm recordingsto archival CD-Rs and to .WAV or MP3 files stored on a server forpublic access.

Ginger Group Productions (New York City): create a searchable indexof the existing filmed and videotaped appearances by the pioneers ofAmerican Music.

Library University of Hawaii at Manoa (Honolulu): to develop aframework for a "Hawaii Music Archive." The archive will preserveHawaiian music in all formats and provide public access.

Louis Armstrong House Archives (Flushing, N.Y.): to archivepreservation tape copies of Louis Armstrong materials and to reformatthe tapes on CD to make them available to researchers and visitors atthe Archives.

Naropa University (Boulder, Colo.): reformat 200 hours of recordingsfocused on the connection between poetry and music.

92nd Street Young Mens and Young Womens Hebrew Association (New YorkCity): a multi-year project to preserve and digitize its archives.

Northwest Folklife (Seattle): to identify, preserve, index andprovide access to more than 30 years of recordings from the annualNorthwest Folklife Festival in Seattle, the KBOO World Music Festivalsin Portland, and field recordings of fiddlers and other musicians inthe Pacific Northwest.

San Francisco Performing Arts Library & Museum (San Francisco):to clean, re-house and catalog 751 rare acetate instantaneous 16-inchdiscs of the Standard Hour, a radio program that broadcasts liveperformances by many of the greatest conductors, musicians andcomposers of the 20th century.

Sebastian Zubieta (New Haven, Conn.): digitize, edit and makeavailable on CD and online recordings held at the archives of theInstituto Nacional de Musicologia in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

University of New Orleans/American Routes: archiving, preserving andpreparing for CD production artist performance and interview recordingsfrom the Folk Masters series now in the American RoutesLibrary.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: preserve and provideaccess to the Goldband Collection in its Southern FolklifeCollection (SFC) Manuscripts Department .

Research International Foundation for Music Research (Carlsbad, Calif.):research will explore the question: Is there a correlation betweenenhancements in cognitive skills and structural brain growth due tomusic training?

Kenneth M. McGuire, Ph.D. (Tuscaloosa, Ala.): Research will answerthe following questions: Is a preschooler's ability to remember songsaffected by the type of song presentation? And does the level ofchildren's involvement during the song presentation have an effect ontheir song recognition?

Music Intelligence Neural Development Institute (M.I.N.D.) (Irvine,Calif.): to evaluate, improve and modify the MST Math program before itis fully implemented nationwide during the 2003-'04 school year. Theprogram is designed to help children learn to think, reason and createusing their innate spatial-temporal skills.

Medical Program for the Performing Artists/Rehabilitation Instituteof Chicago (Chicago): to demonstrate that not only loss of voluntarycontrol of certain hand muscles due to focal hand dystonia can beretrained, but that the underlying causative changes in the brain canbe permanently reversed.

University of North Texas Health Science Center (Fort Worth, Texas):to develop an educational module for music instructors, music students,musicians and their health-care providers about proper practices toreduce the risk of occupational and potentially career-endinginjuries.

University of Texas at Arlington, Human Performance Institute: pilottest to demonstrate a new task analysis/modeling methodology thatquantitatively relates musician subsystem performance capacities to thelevel of performance that can be achieved in playing a musicalinstrument and identify which capacities are maximally stressed for agiven individual.

Megatrax Announces Restructuring Megatrax Production Music (North Hollywood), a supplier of original,high-quality production music for film, television, advertising andmultimedia, has undergone a restructuring, resulting in three clearlydefined new divisions: Megatrax for Film & TV, Megatrax forBroadcast and Megatrax for A/V.

Benjamin Trust, Megatrax' newly hired general manager, said, "We atMegatrax strive to build successful working partnerships with each andevery one of our clients. We pride ourselves on our ability to produceand supply top-quality music, whether original or library, that willenhance each client's producion. With our streamlined new operatingunits, our experienced team members can now better deliver personalizedand highly customized customer service coupled with access to one ofthe finest and most comprehensive production music catalogs."

Megatrax for Film & TV, with Andrew D. Robbins at its helm, willprovide music–from pre to post–for the major motion-pictureand television studios, as well as independent TV and film-productioncompanies. State-of-the-art in-house live and electronic recordingstudios, equipped with Pro Tools|HD and outfitted for 5.1 allow thedivision to quickly turn around virtually any scoring project.

Aaron Davis is head of Megatrax for Broadcast, which wil primarilywork with TV/radio stations and cable networks.

Megatrax for A/V is the newest unit of the Megatrax company, andwill be under the direction of Caitlin Hill. This division providesaccess to the entire Megatrax collection to a wide array of clientsincluding ad agencies, ad producers, network promo producers,consultants, corporations, government agencies, independent promoproducers, infomercial and multimedia producers, not-for-profitorganizations, online/interactive companies, religious organizations,schools and others.

'Showtime In Harlem" Brings in XTA Gear NBC’s late-night variety series Showtime In Harlemrecently switched venues from the legendary Apollo Theater in Harlem tothe larger space of the Hammerstein Ballroom in Midtown. One DreamSound, the New York-based company that provided the program's P.A.system, brought in a wide array of XTA processing equipment forcomplete audio control in the cavernous 3,000-seat venue.

One Dream Sound provided a large Martin Audio P.A. with 10 mid-highboxes per side on a stage that was set up to re-create theApollo’s. "It is a big P.A., but we specialize in large systemsfor broadcast and live events." said David Ferdinand, CEO of One DreamSound. "The space is quite large, and the trick in doing music fortelevision is to get the room under control: keep the volume in check,but still get the excitement level up."

One Dream Sound also brought in a broad array of XTA processingequipment, including six XTA C2 dual/stereo compressors, six G2 gates,a pair of GQ600 dual/stereo 30-band EQs, four each of the DP200 andDP224 speaker-management systems, two DP226 systems and a pair of XTASIDDs. The C2 was used on all vocal microphones, while the G2wasemployed on the entire drum kit. The SIDDs were utilized, inFerdinand’s words, to "act as a ’mastering system’ forthe overall P.A."

Ferdinand continued, "One of the key things is not to let the roomget away from you. That takes compression and limiting. But with mostcomp/limiters, you can hear them ‘breathin,’ or even heardistortion when the compression kicks in. That’s never the casewith the XTA C2 compressor. It’s incredibly clean and transparentin its operation and its sound. The client was extremely happy with thesystem’s performance."

The crew for the show included One Dream Sound’s GregRosenkranz and Thom Wright, and FOH mixer Kevin Hartman of client GoodBrothers Sound.

Symetrix Intros AirTools Studio Matrix at NAB Symetrix Inc. (Mountlake Terrace, Wash.) showed its latest systemunder the AirTools brand: the Studio Matrix. Built on the SymetrixSymNet Audio Matrix technology, this system provides a scalable,modular, redundant solution for audio routing and processing needs ofsmall to medium-sized radio and audio-for-video productionfacilities.

Systems can be configured by networking up to 15 redundant pairs ofspecialized, 1U DSP-driven devices into a matrix, allowing hundreds ofinput and output signals to be brought into the systems and routed viamixers, selectors and/or crosspoint matrix/mixers up to 32x32 (stereo).Users can also route between any two (or more) points in thesystem.

Each network device contains two SHARC processors to handle audiosignals including dynamics, equalization, filtering, mixing, switching,routing and logical control. Local access and control is offered from avariety of sources including Ethernet control, RS-232/485, or analogpots and closures.

Signals originating from outside of the central network location canbe brought into the system through a 4x4 interface known as Homer(model 7000). This device converts signals between the analog anddigital domains and transmits them in and out of the network as AES/EBUaudio over Cat-5 cable. Homer also supports a microphone preamp withphantom power.

EMI Partners With Asset Digital for DVD-A Production Canadian artists will soon be showcasing their tracks on the DVD-Audioformat. In an effort to push DVD-Audio, EMI has partnered with one ofCanada's leading DVD production facilities, Asset Digital. PresentlyCanada's only DVD-Audio house, Asset Digital has completed two projectsfor EMI: Trapeze"–The Tom Cochrane and Red Rider Collectionand Machine Punch Through–A MOIST Compilation.

EMI Music Canada's VP of marketing and operations, Rob Brooks, said,"For a number of years now, consumers have been enjoying 6-channelaudio in the movies they watch, and with the recent DVD hardwarechanges to include a DVD-Audio option, they can now enjoy listening totheir music in 6-channel, advanced-resolution surround. It's a trulyamazing experience."

With over 500 DVD-Video releases to its name, Asset Digital isfocused on creating titles that truly take advantage of the format."We've come a long way with DVD since its introduction," said Assetexecutive producer Andrew Buck. "DVD-Audio was a logical extension toour DVD-Video program and we share EMI's enthusiasm. t truly soundsfantastic, and it's only a matter of time before consumers come to thesame realization."

Genex Audio Supplies Converters for Nneena FrelonaRecording Genex Audio recently supplied an array of GX Series High-PrecisionMultiformat Converters to Digital Music Technologies, one of the WestCoast's suppliers of rental systems to the recording, scoring andpost-production industries. The converters were used in late February,alongside four Genex GX8500 recorders, during a series of 32-trackDirect Stream Digital recordings of Nneena Frelon at New York's KennedyCenter with producer John Newton.

"DMT president Doug Botnick is a longtime Genex fan," said GenexAudio president Kevin Brown, "and is now the proud owner of 80 channelsof GX Series converters. Doug has purchased an additional three pairsof the ultraversatile GXA8 and GXD8 converters and has also orderedmultiple sets of I/O cards to complement his purchase."

"We carefully evaluate every piece of equipment we plan to own,"said Botnick, "by pushing it beyond the manufacturer's testing. Then,when we are fully convinced that the units will withstand the hard lifeany rental item experiences day-to-day in studios, scoring stages andpost facilities, we offer it to our clients."

DMT's GX Series converters were also used in mid-March to recordJerry Goldsmith's score for Timeline, directed by RichardDonner, with session engineer Bruce Botnick at Paramount Stage M.

5.1 Production Services Finishes Norah Jones Live DVD Blue Note Records sought Los Angeles-based 5.1 Production Services'expertise to produce the new DVD Norah Jones, Live in NewOrleans, including surround mixing, compression and authoring. Inaddition to music mixes for DVD, 5.1 Production recently completed avariety of surround mixes for Paramount Pictures box office hit, Howto Lose a Guy in 10 Days.

"We’ve grown accustomed to the quick turn-times required fromthe music and entertainment industries. We have the staff to react, andhave built a very loyal customer base because they know they can counton us to respond immediately," said Bob Michaels, president ofproduction services at 5.1 Entertainment.

Ten-year-old 5.1 Production Services, a division of the 5.1Entertainment Group, provides full-service, state-of-the-art productionservices to the music and movie industries. 5.1 Production has producedand mixed over 180 DVD-Audio albums and was the first studio to produceDVD-Audio three years ago. The company has mixed and producedprojects for companies including Warner Music Group, EMI, Capitol,Virgin, Interscope, Vagrant, Blue Note, Paramount Pictures, FoxPictures, Sony Pictures and Universal Music.

Ocean Studios Adds New Gear Ocean Studios (Burbank, Calif.) recently purchased six more Neve 1081modules, expanding its large-frame vintage 80 Series Neve console up to40 1081, six 1073 and two 1084 modules, with a total of 96 inputs inmix mode.

In other studio news, Ocean welcomed back producer/engineer MarkTrombino with Arista artists Gob for tracking and overdubbing. Ocean'sDean Nelson assisted. Trombino was also in with Dreamworks band MyChemical Romance to track and overdub new material, and then returnedagain with Australia's The Living End on Warner Brothers to trackand overdub their new album. Ocean's Jason Cupp assisted.

Sanken Shows New Broadcast Mics At NAB, Sanken introduced its new microphone products for broadcast,film and studio applications.

The CS-1 Short Shotgun Microphone employs the same technology asprevious Sanken mics in a new, smaller, ultra-compact housing. The new,100kHz CO-100K omnidirectional condenser microphone is designed forprofessional recording and not for measurement purposes. Designedby Sanken in conjunction with NHK Science and Technical ResearchLaboratories, the CO-100K allows for high-frequency response to recordSACD, DVD-A and future high-resolution formats. The HAD-48 Microphone Preamplifier provides switched gains of +20 dB or +40 dB toimprove signal levels. The preamp also an XLR-style barrel (XLR-3M -XLR-3F) that is 105.3mm long. The HAD-48 does not require batteries;rather, it runs off 48V phantom and draws 3 mA.

For more information, contact Sanken's distributor, plus24, at www.plus24.net.

AES Hosts Design Competition At the 115th AES Convention in New York City, the Audio EngineeringSociety will sponsor a competition for audio projects made by studentsat any university or recording school. Entries will be judged by apanel of industry experts in design and manufacturing. Projects thatmay be submitted include loudspeaker designs, electronic circuits,audio/music software, microphones, musical instruments or anything elsethat can be made for use in the audio field. Application deadline isSeptember 13, 2003; visit www.aes.org for an entry form.

InnovaSon Compact Sy40 at Schuster Center Opening The new InnovaSon Compact Sy40 was on hand at the opening of Dayton,Ohio's, Benjamin and Marian Schuster Center for the Performing Arts onMarch 1, 2003. The Center was designed by Cesar Pelli, architect of thePetronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The new facility is expectedto draw 500,000 people to 200 performances during its first full yearof operation.

Steve Colby, of Evening Audio Consultants in New Hampshire, joinedthe team as audio producer for the event using the InnovaSon console atFOH. "The console did everything that it needed to do," said Colby, whowas using the Sy40 for the first time. Colby is a senior sound engineerfor the Boston Pops and a frequent engineer and consultant for theBoston Symphony Orchestra, which last year installed an InnovaSonCompact Live at its Symphony Hall as part of a new sound systemdesigned and installed by Evening Audio Consultants.

"The big change is that you now have the advantage of stereo inputsand stereo group/aux outputs," continued Colby of the new console. TheCompact Sy40 supports up to 72 physical inputs and 48 outputs through48 faders: 32, including eight stereo, for the 40 input channels, 12faders for the stereo mix buses and three faders for the LRM/C masters,plus an automation control fader. "I love the look of the new console.Cosmetically, it's very beautiful and easier to read in the dark thanprevious versions. The new software has enhanced the graphicsdramatically. InnovaSon has also improved the system's insertcapability."

According to Colby, the P.A. system for the gala primarily comprisedthe center's custom EAW system. "We had additional monitor gear broughtin from LIVE Technologies Inc., from Columbus, Ohio," he said. RFmicrophone specialist Kevin Sanford's New York and Boston-basedWireless First supplied Sennheiser MKE 2 miniature lavalier microphonesand bodypacks that were used by the hosts and performers.

Tascam, Frontier Design Group Intro Control Surface, FireWireInterface Tascam showed at NAB the FW-1884, a professional DAW control surfaceand audio/MIDI interface that uses the FireWire high-speeddata-transfer protocol. Co-designed between Tascam and Frontier DesignGroup, the FW-1884 ($1,599 MSRP) is an expandable audio and MIDIinterface and control surface for professional DAW users.

The FW-1884 provides audio and MIDI interfacing to computers, aswell as control of DAW parameters via eight 100mm motorized,touch-sensitive channel faders, one master fader, and controls for pan,solo, mute and select functions on each channel. Tactile control offour bands of parametric EQ, a weighted jog wheel and a variety ofshortcut keys for various popular software applications are alsoincluded.

For use with condenser microphones, the FW-1884 offers phantom powerthat can be switched in groups of four channels. In addition to its twoFireWire (IEEE-1394) computer interfaces, the FW-1884 gives users eightchannels of ADAT Lightpipe and stereo S/PDIF inputs and outputs. TheFW-1884 also provides eight analog outputs that default in L/R and 5.1surround modes; a headphone output is also provided.

Users who require more dedicated tools for DAW control can add theFE-8, an 8-channel fader expander. The FE-8 offers all of the channelstrip capabilities (100mm motorized faders, dedicated control buttons,etc.) of the FW-1884, minus the master section and interfacing. As manyFE-8s may be added to an FW-1884 system as needed.

For additional information on the FW-1884, visit Tascam’sWebsite at www.tascam.com.

Absorbing midrange and high frequencies, MiniTraps are small andeasy to handle, and because they are made with rigid Fiberglas andmetal instead of foam, they are fire-resistant.

According to RealTraps co-owner Ethan Winer, "The main problem inmost studios and listening rooms is standing waves that cause severevariations in the low-frequency response. Many engineers andaudiophiles cover their walls with foam, which just makes the room toodead at mid and high frequencies, while doing nothing for the low end.MiniTraps are much more absorbent than foam at low frequencies, so theydo a superior job overall and with fewer pieces. Their light weight andsmall size also makes them ideal for larger installations like churchesand auditoriums. Best of all, they install easily with one nail or hookwithout glue or wall damage."

Complete product details and performance data are on the RealTrapsWebsite, www.realtraps.com. Also at the RealTraps site isroom treatment advice, showing solutions for common problems, and adetailed explanation of acoustic product-testing methods.

Rob Henninger, HMS founder and CEO, attributed the swift emergencefrom Chapter 11 to Henninger’s cost-cutting moves to eliminateduplicative facilities, as well as its push into business and corporatecommunications, and–with its recent GSA approval–intogovernment contracting. "It’s no secret that the advertising andpost-production businesses have been in an industry-wide slump for acouple of years," Henninger said. "So we’ve made a concertedeffort to diversify our efforts into areas expected to see high growthin the years ahead."

Under the reorganization plan confirmed April 2 by the U.S.Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, AlexandriaDivision, HMS has secured financing from Advisco Capital Corp. andestablished equipment financing on favorable terms. Since enteringChapter 11, liabilities have been significantly reduced; the workforcehas been reorganized to include 100 employees across its threefacilities, absorbing key staff and equipment into its Arlingtonheadquarters from several of the closed facilities. During thisprocess, Henninger has built new Telecine suites, as well as newDiscreet smoke and flame suites for its design and editorial talent. Italso has added capacity for duplication and format conversion atCommonwealth Film Labs & Transfer in Richmond. In addition, thecompany has increased its market share in nontraditional mediaoutlets.